|
Jillian Santella
Jump to
Help Jillian
Reviews
An interview with Jillian
When Jillian Santella was three years old, she saw Itzhak Perlman on Sesame Street. Already a true Taurus – full of bull, and as stubborn as one, too – she insisted that her mother get her a violin, and she began lessons. As she grew older, Jillian’s tastes stretched and grew, but two things remained constant: her love of music and her need to perform. In addition to violin, she has studied dance (tap and jazz), oboe, acting, voice, piano, and guitar. While she was in high school, Jillian was accepted at the Nassau BOCES Cultural Arts Center. She spent three years there as a musical theater major. By the end of that incredible experience, she realized that while she loved theater, her greatest joy came from writing and performing her own songs. In September of 2001, Jillian began studying at Berklee College of Music, working to find her voice and excel at her craft.
2004 was a big year for Jillian. First, her song Why Am I was selected to be featured on a compilation CD being put out by European based company Music75. In addition, Jillian released her debut EP, The July EP. To promote the stripped down, acoustic CD, she hit the stage solo for the first time. She spent the summer on the stages of New York – all across Long Island, around Brooklyn and Manhattan. She was featured in several showcases by groups such as The Long Island Music Coalition, as well as an art and music show put on by New York’s City Canyons Records. Everywhere she went, she charmed audiences with her winning personality and well-crafted pop/rock songs.
In the winter of 2005, Jillian set out on an acoustic tour, bringing her music to venues from MA to PA and everywhere in between. Once again, after each show, it was relatively impossible to find an audience member not humming one of Jillian’s infectious hooks.
What’s Jillian up to these days? Jillian is living in Boston, writing and recording new material.
Five fun facts about Jillian:
*Jillian Sara Santella was born on May 17, 1983, in Park Slope (Brooklyn), New York. Most babies cry. Jillian yawned and went to sleep.
**She has three black & white pets - a cat named Tyrone, and dogs named Trixie & Zoe.
***She claims the best ice cream combination is mint chocolate chip ice cream with peanut butter sauce.
****She has seen Hanson in concert 12 times. No, really. And if you make fun of her, she’ll kick you.
*****She kicks hard.
|
Bio/Press
Jillian's music has been featured on:
- The Long Island Sounds WebRadio
- The Aural Fix Transmission WebRadio show (Webradio WCWP)
- France's MusicBox Radio 92.8 FM
- 'NetteRadio
- Radio Crystal Blue
- Your World With Joe Salzone
- Harris Radio
|
"How can I help Jillian?", you ask.
1) Spread the word!
Click below to invite your friends to check out this site.
2) Join the Street Team!
You can help promote Jillian's gigs, both online and in person. E-mail for more info.
3) Be a merch. guy/girl!
If you can make it to a show, and would like to work the merch. & mailing list table, e-mail Jillian@JillianSantella.com and let her know! (Don't forget to include what show(s) you are available for.)
4) Review Jillian's music!
You don't have to be a professional reviewer to submit your comments! Just e-mail Webmaster@JillianSantella.com!
5) Help Jillian get gigs!
Are you in charge of booking a venue? Or do you know of a place where Jillian can perform? E-mail Booking@JillianSantella.com and let us know! There's no place too large, too small, or too strange for Jillian.
Reviews:
"You'll all be seeing a lot of
this
talented young lady in gigs to come. She's the real deal."
- HM Dave, host of Acoustic Thurdays at The Funky Munky
"Jillian has a powerful pop-
songwriter style, great voice and devoted core listenership. She
has a great engaging persona."
- Dan Herman, Radio Crystal Blue
"Jillian maintains all the flavor of a 'today' pop goddess. Thoughtful lyrics and a sweet vocal delivery sets me in the mood to watch a movie of the week with her tunes in the background as a part of the soundtrack. The production of other instrumentation is very nice, tight and non intrusive.
Hit Pick: Why Am I."
- Annette Warner, A. Warner Entertainment!
"Jillian Santella is a young up and coming singer-songwriter with a pleasant upbeat sound."
-Aural Fix Magazine
"I have to applaud someone who has the guts to go up in front of a live audience and sing her soul out. This is why I have such respect for so many...they have depth to their songs, to their music, to their personalities...to themselves...
The latest example of this is Jillian Santella, a singer/songwriter from good ol' Long Island itself. You'll see what I mean once you visit her website and purchase one of her CDs. I was really blown away and VERY impressed with the range and depth to her voice... She set the world on fire. Those who have heard her live know what I mean. Kind of like Jewel and Natalie Imbruglia combined I'd say...
We have discovered a gifted musician who has a long career ahead of her."
- David Spivak, Publisher and President of Inked Magazine
"In town for the summer to promote her new CD The July EP, Berklee College of Music student Jillian Santella offered a powerful solo acoustic set of original music, even managing a sing-along at the end of her ode to teen worship, Me and Maggie. Her captivating vocals, an aural stew of Chrissy Hynde and The Sundays, with a dash of Loretta Lynn, cut through the dense air, signaling folks to get up out of their cars. Perhaps Mother Nature liked what she was hearing, because the rain actually subsided midway through her set. Other highlights from Jillian’s set included, Simply and Take it to the Grave.
Pics.
-Bill McGlone, "A Rainbow of Sounds Under Grey Skies", a review of the LIMSN Music Fest (8/14/04).
A review of This Misery Is The Company I Love
"This exceptionally elegant ballad reaveals a maturity above and beyond what's expected of a very young singer/songwriter. Jillian Santella creates an exceptionally strong and memorable hook. Her sweet, smooth vocal is a perfect fit for commercial radio. Few listeners will have any trouble relating to lines like 'It's the chaos that I crave' - perfect in their simplicity.
The arrangements building up from piano to electric rock band are tastefully done. Excellent dynamics breaking down to the title line, 'this misery is the company I love.'
Jillian's performance and composition along with the production make this young artist a 'must-listen!' I recommend stopping back at this site often as new musical gems are made available!"
-Jason Didner
An interview with Jillian, from music75.com:
Welcome to Music Box Radio, Jillian. Congratulations.
Thank you so much! I am so excited to be selected.
It seems you've been performing practically all of your life.
Was there any defining moment when you knew, without doubt, that music would be a major part of your future?
I've simply known for as long as I can remember. When I was 3 years old, I saw Itzhak Perlman perform on Sesame Street, and decided I wanted to play violin. I was relentless. I was already studying tap dancing, and soon started jazz dance lessons as well. I also studied voice, theater, oboe, guitar, and piano. In high school, I attended the Nassau BOCES Cultural Arts Center as a musical theater major, but by graduation wanted to branch out into different styles and improve my writing, which until then had pretty much been a hobby. That's why I ended up at Berklee College of Music, where I am now.
What is it like studying at the prestigious Berklee?
Well, it's a lot of work, but completely worth it! It is unbelievably inspiring to be around so many talented people - faculty and students. It really forces me to push myself. I feel that I have learned and grown so much over the past three years, and I am incredibly grateful that I've had the opportunity to do so.
Is there any particular ingredient that goes into a Jillian Santella song that makes it unique?
I don't know if it's unique, but I am all about having a hook that you can hang your hat on, so to speak. I really like a chorus that makes people want to sing along. Also, I try to be very honest and upfront in my lyrics, so that people can relate to them.
"Why Am I," has been selected for airplay on Music Box Radio this week. What was the inspiration for this track?
The inspiration for this song is the way your heart skips a beat when you see someone's name on your caller ID. It's about having a great friend, but realizing that deep down you are longing for much more than friendship, and not knowing how to make the other person see you how you see him/her.
Any words of advice to fellow songwriters at Music75?
If you want to write, write. It's just that simple. You have to write an awful lot of terrible songs to get one decent one! Just keep plugging away. Don't give in to the concept of writer's block. Force yourself to work. Also, learn how to take criticism. It can be tough to hear, but sometimes people have really great input!
What is next in Jillian Santella's musical career? Live performances? New CD release?
I'm actually in the process of re-recording "Why Am I" for a project at school. It will be a much more polished version. Then I'm going to be playing some solo acoustic shows over the summer, and selling "The July EP" - my acoustic EP. Other than that, just writing, writing, writing - and practicing! To stay up to date, you can always check out my web page (www.JillianSantella.com), and join my mailing list.
It has been a pleasure to have you, Jillian, on Music Box Radio.
Best of luck on your musical journey.
Thanks again, and good luck to everyone else on music75.com!
By Gina,
Music75 Guest Writer
|
|
|
Who Wants To Be A Jillianaire?
Join Jillian Santella's Mailing List
Don't forget to set your spam filter to allow mail from Webmaster@JillianSantella.com!
Sign/View Guestbook!
|
|
|
